Cat Owners - Flea baths

[JoeChalupa]

Our cat has fleas and I've used flea spray and rubbed it in and also used those drops on the back of his neck and he still has some. He knows the flea spray bottle and runs when he sees it and puts up a good fight when I do get a chance to hold him down by wrapping a towel around him.
I googled and it said to be prepared for the cat to fight if planning on giving him a bath.
Never had a cat before and now I know why. Never had any problems with our dog and fleas but I just can't seem to get rid of the cats fleas.
I'm seriously thinking about giving the cat up.
Any thoughts?

[CuckingFunt]

Our cat has fleas and I've used flea spray and rubbed it in and also used those drops on the back of his neck and he still has some. He knows the flea spray bottle and runs when he sees it and puts up a good fight when I do get a chance to hold him down by wrapping a towel around him.
I googled and it said to be prepared for the cat to fight if planning on giving him a bath.
Never had a cat before and now I know why. Never had any problems with our dog and fleas but I just can't seem to get rid of the cats fleas.
I'm seriously thinking about giving the cat up.
Any thoughts?

Indoor or outdoor cat?

If indoor, treat the house.

If outdoor, be vigilant with the Advantage. If you use the good stuff, and stick to a monthly schedule, it works well. But you have to commit to it; it's better at prevention than it is at treatment.

If you have a cat, though, I strongly advise keeping it indoors. Litter boxes aren't a big deal if you keep them clean, and scratching the furniture is typically not a huge deal as long as the cat is well cared for and has other toys/scratching posts to deal with all the extra energy. An indoor cat takes a tiny bit more work (compared to putting a food bowl down and opening the door occasionally), but they have much longer lifespans on average and are FAR less likely to have problems with fleas, worms, or common cat illnesses.

Lastly, if you're one of the bajillion people who got a cat based on the assumption they are self sufficient and can therefore be ignored, do everyone a favor and find it a new home. They don't demand any more attention than do dogs, but for some reason people tend to resent the fact they don't require less.

[JoeChalupa]

Yes, indoor cat. Already treated the house and coated him with flea meds. But he still has them. I found a few on his head earlier and he fought while I rubbed in the flea med. He also throws his litter all over the place and I'm constantly having to sweep it up. I don't see this cat in our house much longer. I do think he needs a new home.

[JoeChalupa]

And I'm not sure where he picked up the fleas since he is an indoor cat. He did get out a few times and came back but after a night out. Never had any flea problems with dogs.

[Jimcs50]

My brothers cat died from those Hartz drops that you place between their shoulder blades.

Get the flea treatment from your vet, not the pet store.

[Sportcamper]

Maybe have the Wifey try giving the boy cat a flea bath…Never had a boy cat enjoy a flea bath but they are often more agreeable with women (IMO)…The female cats I have owned have enjoyed their flea baths…Male cats have scratched the heck out of me…

[DeadlyDynasty]

Bathe it in vinegar.

[CuckingFunt]

Also keep in mind that if you give it a bath, you're going to wash whatever other treatments you've already given out of his fur/off of his skin.

Could it be that you've tried too many things without giving any one of them enough time to work? Not sure. If the problem is fleas, I've never not had Advantage work for regular prevention. Only time I've ever had a bad problem with fleas, in fact (and we're talking BAD), was when I brought a few home from an apartment I had to inspect and they infested my house. Went from no fleas to full on infestation in a matter of a couple of days. But even then, having the house treated professionally knocked it out completely and regular Advantage kept them gone.

[leemajors]

little diatomaceous earth round your doorways couldn't hurt, this spring has been rough for fleas with all the rain.

[mrsmaalox]

Yes, indoor cat. Already treated the house and coated him with flea meds. But he still has them. I found a few on his head earlier and he fought while I rubbed in the flea med. He also throws his litter all over the place and I'm constantly having to sweep it up. I don't see this cat in our house much longer. I do think he needs a new home.

My cats have never brought home fleas, but I think you just need to be diligent applying the med and washing his bed until they are gone. If he's able to toss the litter out when he scratches around, maybe a deeper box would help. Put one of those litter mats (or any kind of mat with ridges or texture on it) under his litter box, so his paws hit it when he steps out and the mat will trap the litter off his paws and make everything neater.

Be patient with him; he needs you

[JoeChalupa]

My brothers cat died from those Hartz drops that you place between their shoulder blades.

Get the flea treatment from your vet, not the pet store.

Those are the ones I used but the more expensive ones. I don't want to spend any more money on this cat.

[JoeChalupa]

Also keep in mind that if you give it a bath, you're going to wash whatever other treatments you've already given out of his fur/off of his skin.

Could it be that you've tried too many things without giving any one of them enough time to work? Not sure. If the problem is fleas, I've never not had Advantage work for regular prevention. Only time I've ever had a bad problem with fleas, in fact (and we're talking BAD), was when I brought a few home from an apartment I had to inspect and they infested my house. Went from no fleas to full on infestation in a matter of a couple of days. But even then, having the house treated professionally knocked it out completely and regular Advantage kept them gone.

I had given him treatment by rubbing him down all over with flea med and then after I thought they were gone I used the Advantage and I too thought I needed to give it time but he seems to be scratching and biting more now than before and I don't want no damn flea infestation so it could be bye-bye kitty asap.

[CuckingFunt]

I don't want to spend any more money on this cat.

Then, please, take it to a shelter.

[mrsmaalox]

I had given him treatment by rubbing him down all over with flea med and then after I thought they were gone I used the Advantage and I too thought I needed to give it time but he seems to be scratching and biting more now than before and I don't want no damn flea infestation so it could be bye-bye kitty asap.

Maybe the fleas are gone but his skin is itchy from flea bites.

[rascal]

Our cat has fleas and I've used flea spray and rubbed it in and also used those drops on the back of his neck and he still has some. He knows the flea spray bottle and runs when he sees it and puts up a good fight when I do get a chance to hold him down by wrapping a towel around him.
I googled and it said to be prepared for the cat to fight if planning on giving him a bath.
Never had a cat before and now I know why. Never had any problems with our dog and fleas but I just can't seem to get rid of the cats fleas.
I'm seriously thinking about giving the cat up.
Any thoughts?

You shouldn't have let it outside. If you are willing to give it up that easy then you aren't close to it and shouldn't own it. Dogs get fleas too. Take a close look and you will see them.

[Shastafarian]

You have a couple options. Vets will carry (usually) something called Capstar. It kills all adult fleas pretty rapidly (as in around 30 minutes). There is also something called Program for cats that is a development inhibitor, killing more stages of the flea. After those initial treatment(s), you can use monthly flea and tick preventatives. Sentinel, Advantage, and Frontline are all pretty good. But make sure you don't buy expired products!

[JoeChalupa]

My cats have never brought home fleas, but I think you just need to be diligent applying the med and washing his bed until they are gone. If he's able to toss the litter out when he scratches around, maybe a deeper box would help. Put one of those litter mats (or any kind of mat with ridges or texture on it) under his litter box, so his paws hit it when he steps out and the mat will trap the litter off his paws and make everything neater.

Be patient with him; he needs you

Never had a cat before but the wife took him in when her best friend moved away. Even she says it is time for him to go. We do have one of those litter mats and sometimes this stupid cat lays in his litter box. WTF is up with that!?

[JoeChalupa]

You shouldn't have let it outside. If you are willing to give it up that easy then you aren't close to it and shouldn't own it. Dogs get fleas too. Take a close look and you will see them.

Yeah, it got outside by accident. You are right, I am not close to this cat and probably never will be. I'm guilty of being a dog lover and of course dogs get fleas too but I've never had any problems controlling them and giving a dog bath is much, much easier.

[JoeChalupa]

He is a cool cat and doesn't bother me at all but I won't stand for fleas. He also jumps on the kitchen table and counters and my dog never did that.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

We do have one of those litter mats and sometimes this stupid cat lays in his litter box. WTF is up with that!?

Cats are weird. Don't worry about that. When I got my cat he slept in it the first week or so.

[CuckingFunt]

Never had a cat before but the wife took him in when her best friend moved away. Even she says it is time for him to go. We do have one of those litter mats and sometimes this stupid cat lays in his litter box. WTF is up with that!?

Sleeping/laying in his litter box is abnormal, but not uncommon. It likely means that your cat is looking for a safe or comfortable space to call his own. Which could be the result of something happening in your house, but could also just be because he misses his old home.

If everyone in the house says the cat needs to go, then, again, shelter. Sooner rather than later.

[JoeChalupa]

Sleeping/laying in his litter box is abnormal, but not uncommon. It likely means that your cat is looking for a safe or comfortable space to call his own. Which could be the result of something happening in your house, but could also just be because he misses his old home.

If everyone in the house says the cat needs to go, then, again, shelter. Sooner rather than later.

Well his previous owner would put him in his cat cage over night but I didn't like doing that but then found he is a night owl and sleeps all day and then runs around the house all night long. We got him a cat bed and he used it for a day or two and then I caught him peeing in it. So he now just sleeps wherever he wants to. He has been with us for over 4 months and he sheds like crazy as well and we find cat hair everywhere.
I guess I, we are just not made for cats and my youngest wants another dog. Just talked to the wife and the shelter it is.

[CuckingFunt]

He is a cool cat and doesn't bother me at all but I won't stand for fleas. He also jumps on the kitchen table and counters and my dog never did that.

Well, that's a pretty silly benchmark. I don't know a single dog, even those well behaved/trained, who wouldn't be up on any kitchen counter or table they encountered if they could. Most of them just lack the coordination/jumping ability necessary to do so.

[rascal]

He is a cool cat and doesn't bother me at all but I won't stand for fleas. He also jumps on the kitchen table and counters and my dog never did that.

But dogs bark and all over the yard and you end up stepping in it if your not out there picking it up every day.

[CuckingFunt]

Well his previous owner would put him in his cat cage over night but I didn't like doing that but then found he is a night owl and sleeps all day and then runs around the house all night long. We got him a cat bed and he used it for a day or two and then I caught him peeing in it. So he now just sleeps wherever he wants to. He has been with us for over 4 months and he sheds like crazy as well and we find cat hair everywhere.
I guess I, we are just not made for cats and my youngest wants another dog. Just talked to the wife and the shelter it is.

Think that's the right choice. A lot of the problems you've described, including peeing in his bed and sleeping in the litter box, are the behaviors of an unhappy cat.